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MBA Spotlight: From Management Consulting... |
- Hometown: Santa Clarita, California
- Undergraduate: UC Irvine - Economics & Accounting
- Pre-MBA: Deloitte Consulting – Senior Consultant
- Internship: Apple – Product Management Intern
- Post-MBA:
- Rent the Runway - Director, Product Marketing & Customer Strategy
- Apple - Lead Global Product Manager
- Leadership @ Anderson:
- AnderTech - Director of Startups
- Anderson Career Coach - Team Captain & Technology Coach
- Entertainment Management Association - Director of Music
- Riordan Program - Scholar Mentor
- Admissions Ambassador Corps - Vice President of Yield & Special Projects
- Women's Business Connection - Member
7 QUESTIONS WITH JOVANNA YOUSSEF (MBA '16)
Q1: What career pivot did you make via your MBA?
A: I transitioned from consulting at Deloitte Consulting into my dream trifecta of an opportunity at a company I love (Apple), in a function I was deeply interested in (Product Management) in an industry I'm passionate about (Retail Tech).
Q2: What do you wish you know now that you wish you knew as a prospective Anderson MBA student?
A: You come into the whole MBA process thinking you have a good idea of the things and areas you like and don’t like. And then next thing you know you are sitting in a class unrelated to your career goals. Before you know it, you’re interested in the subject and considering a different path. This element of surprise and self-awakening makes business school a pivotal transition in one’s professional growth.
Q3: How has your Anderson experience changed you?
A: I developed an even deeper appreciation for the importance of diversity of thought of individuals of various backgrounds. Leading up to business school, we’ve all had very different experiences, lived in different cities, utilized different skills, and this all comes together in the classroom. Everyone’s varying experiences and backgrounds have shaped their thoughts and how they approach issues and problems found in and outside of the classroom. I’ve learned so much from the different perspectives of my classmates and it’s helped me become even more open to new ways of thinking.
Q4: Why would you recommend Anderson?
A: I chose Anderson for two main reasons: the collaborative culture and the opportunities. The collaborative culture at Anderson is unique and unlike anything I’ve experienced. My classmates, the alumni network, and the administration are always available to help with everything from classes to recruiting.
From a professional perspective, Anderson had all of the opportunities I was looking for. The strong West Coast network was very important to me. Going to school in a city like LA gives you access to leaders based right in the city who can easily drop by to speak on campus or meet for coffee. Those unique opportunities and that level of access are what drew me to Anderson.
Q5: Which class was your favorite at Anderson and why?
A: Urban Real Estate Financing and Investing with Paul Habibi. First, Prof Habibi is an excellent lecturer. Second, I learned so much about an industry I had little knowledge about in just 10 weeks. The class is engaging, the content is real world examples, and it was great to chase the curiosity in this space that wasn't directly related to my career goals.
Q6: What activity or hobby did you enjoy most during your MBA years?
A: What I enjoyed most and am also most proud of was my role as an Anderson Career Team (ACT) Coach for the technology industry. As an ACT coach, I led a weekly class of first-year students to prepare them for recruiting for summer internships. For me, it was an opportunity to give back at Anderson. And it was incredibly rewarding to see the class grow and become more confident in their abilities and go on to secure their dream internships. The role also helped reveal to me just how much I had grown and learned in a short time.
Q7: I geek out on...
A: ...helping others prepare for interviews and job offer negotiations. Seeing people WIN!
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